Aso Villa driver attempts suicide over ‘poor’ pay

A34-year-old driver at the State House Villa, Sunday Offre has been rescued dangling on a tree when he attempted to commit suicide, Daily Trust reports.

Offre who hails from Cross River state is on Grade Level 3 with a monthly salary of N25,000. He joined the service of the State House in 2009, Daily Trust reports.

Workers at the State House told Daily Trust that the driver, who is a father of two, was found in a bush in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), dangling on a tree.

Daily Trust reports that the suicide attempt which happened penultimate Monday has become topic of discussion at the State House.

One of the workers said the driver was rescued when his wife saw the suicide note on the table when she returned home.

“It was the wife that saved the whole thing. When she saw the suicide note on the table, she raised alarm that attracted their neighbours,” he said.

He said the wife and their neighbours embarked on spirited search across their environs.

“They saw him dangling on the tree in a bush in their neighborhood. When he was found, they thought he has passed on. It was while they were conveying him to the mortuary that he moved his hand,” he said.

It was gathered that the driver lamented poor remuneration in the suicide note.

Daily Trust reports that the driver was revived at the State House Clinic, as he was said to be unconscious for days.

When our correspondent visited the Clinic yesterday, Offre’s colleagues said he has been discharged last weekend.

In a phone interview, Offre blamed devil for the suicide attempt.

“It is what I can’t explain honestly. They said I attempted suicide. I can’t explain how it happened but they said I tried to hang myself at the bush in Kubwa. I live in Kubwa,” he said.

Asked why he attempted suicide, he said it was the work of devil, “I can’t really say what happened.”

On the suicide note, he said, “they said I wrote it but I cannot remember. I can’t even remember the content of the suicide note.

“It is what I can’t just explain. The car issue has been addressed before this thing happened. But it is because of difficulties. I only depend on my salary which is about N25,000. Permanent Secretary visited me in the hospital and advised me not to try such a thing again,” he said.

Contacted, the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi who confirmed the report said he visited the driver at the hospital.

He said the driver regretted his action and he advised him not repeat such a thing again.

On the poor remuneration, he said there was nothing the state house could do, saying “it is a federal issue.”